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Caucuses and Task Forces

ACTION ALLIANCE CAUCUSES

A Caucus is made up of members of the Action Alliance who share an identity within a traditionally oppressed and/or marginalized group in society that has been officially recognized by the Governing Body.

Caucus meetings are open to participation by all Action Alliance members who are eligible by caucus or task force definition to participate.

WOMEN OF COLOR CAUCUS

Contact: Action Alliance (info@vsdvalliance.org)

The purpose of the Women of Color Caucus is to create a source of peer/ professional support and information, to develop Women of Color leadership within the coalition, and to provide a voice for Women of Color who might not otherwise be heard. History has shown that Women of Color must be responsible for doing our own work because no one else will do it for us. Meetings are open to all individuals who self-identify as Women of Color, particularly those who work in Virginia’s domestic violence programs and sexual assault crisis centers.

Why the term "Women of Color"? The term Women of Color is a political statement because it represents women as an oppressed class who have claimed the power to name and define themselves and their experiences. Women of Color (WOC) include but are not limited to Native American, Africans, Hispanic, African-American, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, Thai, Indo-Chinese, Vietnamese, and Pakistanis. WOC reflect a diverse group of women.

ACTION ALLIANCE TASK FORCES

A Task Force is made up of members who come together to work on behalf of a special population or an identified issue consistent with the vision, mission and guiding principles of the Action Alliance that has been officially recognized by the Governing Body.

Task Force meetings are open to participation by all Action Alliance members who are eligible by task force definition to participate.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA TASK FORCE

The Northern Virginia Task Force is comprised of domestic violence, sexual assault, and dual programs, as well as collaborative community organizations and agencies who provide services to those affected by domestic and sexual violence and stalking in the northern Virginia jurisdictions of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William. The group meets quarterly to discuss individual program updates, current legal and policy trends in the Northern Virginia area, and is a space that provides support for the advocacy and services community in the region. Due to the region’s urban environment and jurisdictional closeness, the Task Force meetings are a time to collaborate, problem-solve, and improve the response to those affected by domestic and sexual violence and stalking.

WILD WOMEN OF WISDOM TASK FORCE

The goals of the Wild Women of Wisdom Task Force, formed in 2005, are to celebrate aging in a positive way while engaging individuals in the field through activities that support, empower and inspire advocates in the movement. We aim to support each other, practice laughter, humor and fun, share strategies about how we are able to do this work and thrive—We focus on mentoring women in the movement and advocating for women in the second half of life (age 50 and older) who are or have been victims of sexual and/ or domestic violence.

“History, Her Story, Your Story” video project

The video project is an opportunity to record not only our stories, but your stories, too.

What got you involved in the domestic violence/sexual violence movement?

Because we know that everyone is affected by sexual and intimate partner violence, and because we believe that everyone should have equal access to safety, resources and services, the Racial Justice Task Force was formed in 2012. We are a membership group of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. We create resources to help local sexual and domestic violence agencies understand racism and white privilege, how they relate to sexual and domestic violence, and what we can do to build racial justice.

VIRGINIA CAMPUS TASK FORCE

The Virginia Campus Task Force (VCTF) is a statewide collaborative group designed to effectively address sexual and domestic violence issues on Virginia's college and university campuses. Our members come from institutions of higher education, community sexual and domestic violence agencies, and other allied groups. Through resource development, networking, cross-training, and systemic advocacy we work toward strengthening sexual and domestic violence prevention, outreach and response on campuses. Our primary objectives are: (1) to provide statewide leadership to Virginia's higher education institutions regarding the prevention and response to campus sexual and domestic violence; (2) to support community agencies in providing relevant and informed services to college students within their service area; (3) to encourage collaborative partnerships in prevention, outreach and service provision between higher education institutions and local community agencies; and (4) to assist the Action Alliance in identifying and working on statewide policy issues and concerns relevant to college students.

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA TASK FORCE

In 2004 the Southwestern Virginia Task Force was formed. Programs from the region identified the following objectives: To provide a voice for historically oppressed and marginalized people of Southwest Virginia within the Action Alliance and society; to provide a means for Southwest Virginia Domestic and Sexual Violence advocates to meet and share information and provide support while working towards a violence-free society; to advocate for the equality of every program’s ability to participate in Alliance work and training events, reducing the obstacles of prohibitive and excessive travel costs and staff time invested, to address the challenges distinct to Domestic and Sexual Violence victims/survivors in Southwest Virginia; and to be a catalyst for challenging and changing the disempowering influences of dominant culture on citizens in Southwest Virginia.

VALLEY REGIONAL TASK FORCE

The Valley Regional Task Force will provide opportunities for domestic and sexual violence programs to share information, collaborate on trainings or programs, and develop strategies for addressing and solving common problems.